Mackenna's Gold (1969)

A favorite of mine since a kid. Read the Will Henry book many times (the book is of course better). Very enjoyable western however. Stellar visuals, music that is memorable, excellent cast. Omar Sharif does great as 'Colorado' the bandit leader but if anyone reads the book, Colorado is described much as Telly Savales looks but it's Hollywood, having said that Sharif does a great job IMO.A lot of people knock the effects, I can over look it, its' a great old school western that really tries to be a spectacle & mostly it succeeds; one can forgive the occasional visual short comings when U consider the intent & desire of all involved was to make it as good as possible.Lottsa great actors here! Crazy cameos & they almost all are wasted in terms of screen time or contribution to the plot. The central actors are very good. I am not a huge Peck fan but he's good. Julie Newmar is fantastic needless to say.All in all one of my favorites since it was such an early influence on me, I owe to this movie & of course WIll Henry's source novel which I highly recommend as well.

I saw this movie on release in 1969 with my parents and was absolutely captivated by it. I had already seen quite a few classic Westerns but this had an extra ingredient - the kind of plot we are now so used to in the Indiana Jones movies. In fact I am certain that Raiders Of The Lost Ark owes at least one debt to Mackenna's Gold.Visually the film is stunning. Henry Ford's classics spring to mind but again there is more much more. All the principal characters are well drawn and it moves along at just the right pace. The conclusion is a tour de force that sends shivers down my spine. The use of special effects may have offended traditionalists but I think they work brilliantly. A much overlooked adventure that bears repeated viewing.

Marshall Mackenna (Gregory Peck) becomes the recipient of the location of a legendary hidden valley of gold. This makes him of considerable interest to assorted individuals who believe the legend to be true (Mackenna doesn't), chief among whom is outlaw Colorado (Omar Sharif).This 1969 western is a curious mix of extremes - when it's good, it is very good, and when it's bad it is truly awful. The workmanlike story is perfectly serviceable (if a little overburdened with sidetracks), but the script is abominable. The extensive cast is peppered with high profile names, but most of them have little to do while the obscure and uninspired Camilla Sparv is on screen through the latter two thirds of the film. The scenery is eye-catching and spectacular, but there are big chunks which are heavily (and obviously) studio-bound. The action is mostly pretty good, but the special effects are lamentable (poor rear projection, standard ratio shots unsqueezed, out of focus model work etc.).Peck is his usual upright self, and Sharif has fun chewing the scenery. Most of the support cast is OK, and Julie (Catwoman) Newmar as a moody Apache woman with her own agenda, puts in sterling service with a nekkid dip in a mountain pool.

See it – This is "Indiana Jones" disguised as a western. It is overflowing with action and adventure as a group of outlaws, Indians, soldiers, townspeople, and a sheriff played by Gregory Peck search for fabled treasure in the old west. The impressive cast also includes Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Eli Wallach, Edward G. Robinson, and Lee Cobb. Although most movies during this time period were very family friendly, be aware that in addition to some violence, this movie has one of the first female nude scenes in a western. So keep it in mind before watching it with the kiddos. But if you are looking for a movie with non-stop action, this is one of the most action-packed, epic westerns you'll ever see. You've got Indian fights, cavalry fights, gunfights, knife fights, tomahawk fights, and…belt fights? No joke.